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A Principal Shares… The Power of Coaching

A LYS Principal shares the result of working with a LYS Coach this year. SC, I want you to know that Barbara Fine (LYS Legend, Icon and Coach) has really helped me and the staff turn our school around.  We are finally functioning as a school should function.  We are having significantly more success with…

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of January 24, 2016

If you are not following @LYSNation on Twitter, then you missed the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of January 24, 2016 when they were first posted.  And if you are on Twitter, you might want to check out the Tweeters who made this week’s list. 1. Even the best athletes in the world…

A Superintendent Writes… Attrition Plan Doom Loop – Part 2

In response to the 2/27/15 post, “Attrition Plan Doom Loop,” a LYS Superintendent shares the following: SC, This reminds me of a conversation we had when we first met and I was an Assistant Superintendent over HR (over 6 years ago). Our district was in a difficult financial situation and we were managing the budget…

Early Success: A Coaching Exchange

The following is an excerpt between LYS Coach Harry Miller and the principal of a new LYS school. (Coach Miller) It is exciting watching your people grow and increase the size of their bag of tools.  There is power in having all of the campus totally immersed in this endeavor; it’s hard to beat synergy.…

A Principal Submits… Just Quote Einstein

A LYS Principal shares the following: SC, I saw the following quote and immediately thought of you. But not due to the Einstein part. “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”  Albert Einstein You cut to the chase.  Not because you don’t get it, but because you get it better.…

The Big Easy Writes… Its What We Do

LYS Coaching Legend, “The Big Easy,” shares the following: SC, I wanted to share a message that one of our principals sent me today. “As always, I enjoyed our visit. I appreciate you taking time to provide me feedback over the years of your observations. And for the time you took to provide me with…

A LYS Assistant Principal Submits… Dr. Jim Davis, Our LYS Coach

A new LYS Assistant Principal submits the following: SC, I just want to let you know how much I appreciate Dr. Jim Davis. He has gone out of his way to make sure I had an opportunity to make up the training on the Fundamental 5 modules I had missed. Not only has he been…

A Reader Writes… (The Summative Evaluation – Part 1)

In response to the 8/31/11 post, “The Summative Evaluation,” a LYS Principal writes: This could have been a conversation between you and any number of us LYS Rookies. This second year is tougher and already more exhausting because the focus has to be clearer and the conversations that much more explicit – not to mention…

From the Ol’ Ball Coach… Coach Thru the Doldrums

Last week I was talking to the Ol’ Ball Coach as I driving across the state to another LYS school. Before we hung up, he told to share the following with the LYS Nation. Sean, you remind those schools that we are about to hit the doldrums. The time when the newness of the year…

Readers Write… (The Legacy of a Great Coach)

In response to the 7/20/2011 post, “The Legacy of a Great Coach,” readers write: 1. Thanks for sharing. I am at T-CASE, today. He will be missed, but what a legacy of influence. 2. That is awesome! Made me cry. SC Response I agree and me too. Harlan understood principal coaching. He had a rule…

A Reader Writes… (I Got a Royal Flush – Part 7)

In response to the post, “I got a Royal Flush – Part 6,” a long time LYS’er writes: SC, So well said, I hate to add more, but you know I can’t resist. Teachers get far too much abuse and not enough solutions to their problems. Let’s start by remembering that the cornerstone of LYS…

A Reader Writes… (Advice for the First Year Principal – Part 4)

In response to the post, “Advice for the First Year Principal,” a reader writes: “SC, if it wasn’t for you I would not have made it though my first year. I don’t say that lightly, there were other first year principals in my district that didn’t make it. Why doesn’t our district hire you to…

A Reader Asks… Interview Prep

A reader asks: “SC,I have an interview for a principalship next week. As part of the interview process, they have asked me to outline my plan for the first 90 days, if they hire me. Since I’m going to get this job, I don’t want this to be an empty exercise. Any ideas on what…

A Reader Writes… (It’s all About the Conversation – Part 4)

In response to the posts related to “It’s all About the Conversation,” a reader writes: “As an extension to the blog discussion, don’t get over focused on data when you first start your PowerWalks (frequent classroom observations). Your data will not be accurate or useful for some time. It will take you time to recognize…

A Reader Writes… (It’s all About the Conversation – Part 3)

In response to the post, “It’s all About the Conversation,” a reader writes: “We have a good boss. He just tells us we need a break and helps us. He has told us the same things you just wrote for this person. I guess you could say our boss thinks a lot like you!!!!” SC…

A Reader Submits… The Fun 5

“SC,Loved the Fun 5 training series! These reminders and improvements to my practice are absolutely imperative to my students’ success. Making the Fun 5 the expectation for our entire campus is the unified focus and vision that we need to reach Exemplary.Thanks to you and the LYS Crew!”SC ResponseWhat can I say but, “WOW!” Our…

A Reader Asks… Why You?

A reader asks, “Can you please tell me why our district has contracted your services? I have read through your blogs and information and it seems to me that everything you say is basically common sense. I was just wondering what you have to offer our district. Thanks.” SC ResponseThank you for reading the blog,…

A Reader Writes… (Brezina Coaches)

In response to the post, “Brezina Coaches,” a reader writes: “It is hard to grow in any capacity without coaching. We all grow as leaders by reading this blog, but our organizations need more than this blog, they need personal coaches. This is where Lead Your School comes in. Lead Your School can provide the…

A Reader Writes… (Morning Homework / Support Lab)

In response to the post, “Morning Homework / Support Lab,” a reader writes: “Cain pointed this out to me a while back, and I must admit I was embarrassed to have not seen it myself. It is so incredibly simple, yet profound. When you have a captive audience, make the most of it. In order…

A Reader Writes… (Brezina’s Rule Commentary)

In response to answer for the question concerning Brezina’s Rule, a reader writes: “This was a brilliant analysis and spot on. I just did my first master schedule and all we (me, the other AP, and the Principal) talked about was how to strategically place the weak teachers where they would not do the most…

A Reader Writes… (Engaging Students)

In response to the post, “When Does Your School Start and End,” a reader writes: “The biggest problem my school has is that the faculty is disengaged from the students. It seems to be a hard problem to solve.”SC ResponseThis is a difficult issue on almost every campus. It’s not that every teacher is disengaged…

Today’s Meeting With Principals (Some Unfinished Business)

Today I met with a group of principals from a Dallas area school district. As a group they were attentive, smart and driven. We were talking about “change levers” and how to move classroom, school and district performance in a rapid fashion. However, my external coach (everyone needs one) reminded me in our debrief that…

Rapid School Improvement – Four Quick Rules

Here are four quick rules, in terms of making rapid gains in campus academic performance. 1. Poor instruction is better than no instruction. Filling instructional dead times (start of class, end of class, transitions) with even low grade instruction (worksheets, flashcards, etc.) will make a noticeable impact. 2. Poor aligned instruction is better than excellent…
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